Gregory to the gentry and commonalty (ordini et
plebi) residing at Naples.

The communication you have addressed to us has
made manifest what your opinion is of our brother and fellow-bishop
Paulus14001400 He was bishop of
Nepe, which as well as Naples, was in the urbicarian province of
Rome. The filling up of the See of Naples appears to have been a
cause of great anxiety to Gregory, probably because of the party
feeling prevailing in the city. In his first letter to the
Neapolitans (supra, Ep. 6), he had contemplated the speedy
election of a new bishop in the usual way; but it appears from this
Epistle that he had seen reason to defer such election, sending
meanwhile Paulus of Nepe to administer the See. Some at least in
Naples appear to have wished this Paulus to be elected soon after his
arrival among them; but this Gregory would not allow till he could see
better how things were going. Such provisional arrangement
continued, it seems, for more than a year, another bishop having been
commissioned to supply Paul’s place in his own Church of Nepe
against the Easter festival (II. 26). That Gregory’s fear
of opposition to Paul were justified appears from the subsequent
mention of a violent attack made on him by a party opposed to him at
Naples (III. 1). He meanwhile, not liking his position, had
already been anxious to return to his own see (II. 15), but had not
been allowed. When he went at last, it seems that an election had
taken place, but had proved futile from the person chosen having
refused to be ordained (III. 15). Eventually the election had
taken place, by Gregory’s direction, not at Naples, but at Rome
(III. 35), one Fortunatus being chosen (III. 61). The whole
history of the case illustrates the troubles incident to popular
election of bishops at that time, especially in great
cities.: and we
congratulate you in that your experience of him for a few days has been
such that you desire to have him as your cardinal bishop14011401 See I. 79, note 5.. But, since in matters of supreme
importance there ought to be no hasty decision, so we, Christ helping
us, will arrange after mature deliberation what is to be done
hereafter, his character meanwhile, in course of time, having become
better known to you.

Wherefore, most beloved sons, obey ye the
aforesaid man, if you truly love him, and with devoted minds meet his
wishes in peaceful concurrence, to the end that the affection of your
mutual charity may so bind you to each other, that the enemy who flies
about you raging may find no way through any of you for creeping in to
break up your unanimity. Further, when we shall have perceived
the aforesaid bishop offering to God the fruit
of souls which we long for, God Himself also
approving, we will do afterwards whatever divine inspiration may
suggest to our heart, with regard to his person and to your
desire.

1400 He was bishop of
Nepe, which as well as Naples, was in the urbicarian province of
Rome. The filling up of the See of Naples appears to have been a
cause of great anxiety to Gregory, probably because of the party
feeling prevailing in the city. In his first letter to the
Neapolitans (supra, Ep. 6), he had contemplated the speedy
election of a new bishop in the usual way; but it appears from this
Epistle that he had seen reason to defer such election, sending
meanwhile Paulus of Nepe to administer the See. Some at least in
Naples appear to have wished this Paulus to be elected soon after his
arrival among them; but this Gregory would not allow till he could see
better how things were going. Such provisional arrangement
continued, it seems, for more than a year, another bishop having been
commissioned to supply Paul’s place in his own Church of Nepe
against the Easter festival (II. 26). That Gregory’s fear
of opposition to Paul were justified appears from the subsequent
mention of a violent attack made on him by a party opposed to him at
Naples (III. 1). He meanwhile, not liking his position, had
already been anxious to return to his own see (II. 15), but had not
been allowed. When he went at last, it seems that an election had
taken place, but had proved futile from the person chosen having
refused to be ordained (III. 15). Eventually the election had
taken place, by Gregory’s direction, not at Naples, but at Rome
(III. 35), one Fortunatus being chosen (III. 61). The whole
history of the case illustrates the troubles incident to popular
election of bishops at that time, especially in great
cities.